Huppert takes fight to safeguard legal aid to Prime Minister

June 9, 2011

Cambridge MP Julian Huppert has taken his fight against cuts to legal aid to Prime Minister, David Cameron.

Julian has signed a letter to the Premier calling for him to intervene in government plans to make cuts to legal aid.

The letter has been written by the Sound Off for Justice Campaign which is supported by Shelter, Gingerbread and the WI among other leading charities.

It says that the Ministry of Justice’s proposals are “Ill-conceived, unfair and will have a detrimental effect on justice in the UK”.

“We believe that the Government is undertaking these cuts in full knowledge of how disastrous they will be,” the letter says. “The government's own equality impact assessment has warned that the risks presented by these proposals will include ‘reduced social cohesion, increased criminality and costs to other government departments.’

“We urge you now to review the proposals for positive reform. We are asking you to acknowledge that vulnerable families, children, pensioners, the infirm and the unemployed will all be affected by the MoJ proposals.”

Julian raised the issue of legal aid reform in a debate in Westminster Hall recently. He warned that the planned changes,designed to save £384 million, could lead to people being denied access to justice.

Speaking about the Sound Off for Justice campaign, he said: “It is vital that as many people as possible speak up against these cuts to legal aid which could see hundreds of thousands of people lose their right to legal redress.

“We pride ourselves on this country on having a fair and balanced legal system where everybody has the right and the opportunity to fight against injustice. By making these cuts to legal aid, we will be taking away the voices of people, particularly women and the young, when it really matters.”